An apparatus includes a module having a tape bearing surface, a first edge, and a second edge, where a first tape tenting region of the tape bearing surface extends from the first edge toward the second edge, and a second tape tenting region of the tape bearing surface extends from the second edge toward the first edge. A first guide is positioned for inducing a first tenting of a moving magnetic recording tape above the first tape tenting region, and a second guide is positioned for inducing a second tenting of the moving magnetic recording tape above the second tape tenting region. A sensor is located in a thin film region of the module. The sensor has a free layer. The sensor is positioned between the first tape tenting region and the second tape tenting region of the tape bearing surface.

An apparatus according to one embodiment includes a plurality of first modules each having a first write transducer, and a plurality of second modules each having a second write transducer. Planes of deposition of write gaps of the second write transducers are oriented at an angle of greater than 4 degrees relative to planes of deposition of write gaps of the first write transducers. An apparatus according to another embodiment includes a first module having a plurality of first write transducers, and a second module having a plurality of second write transducers. Planes of deposition of write gaps of the second write transducers are oriented at an angle of greater than 4 degrees relative to planes of deposition of write gaps of the first write transducers.

An apparatus according to one embodiment includes a module having a tape bearing surface, a first edge, and a second edge, where a tape tenting region extends from the first edge toward the second edge, the first edge being a first end of the tape tenting region, a second end of the tape tenting region being positioned between the first and second edges. The apparatus includes a guide positioned relative to the first edge for inducing tenting of a moving magnetic recording tape and a transducer positioned in the tape tenting region. In addition, the module has a wear coating on a media facing side of the transducer, where a peak height is defined between the peak of tenting and an upper surface of the coating. The thickness of the wear coating is in a range of between about 0.5 and about 3 times the peak height.

An apparatus according to one embodiment includes a first module having a plurality of first write transducers, and a plurality of second modules each having a second write transducer. Planes of deposition of write gaps of the second write transducers are oriented at an angle of greater than 4 degrees relative to planes of deposition of write gaps of the first write transducers.

An apparatus according to one embodiment includes a module having a tape bearing surface, a magnetic transducer in a thin film region, and an edge closest to the transducers. A guide is positioned relative to the edge for inducing tenting of a moving magnetic recording tape above a tape tenting region of the tape bearing surface. The magnetic transducer is positioned along the tape tenting region. The magnetic transducer is positioned a distance from a location on the tape bearing surface directly under a peak that is more than one-fourth the length from the location directly under the peak to the edge closest thereto.

The magnetic tape device includes a TMR head and a magnetic tape, in which the magnetic tape includes fatty acid ester in a magnetic layer, Ra measured regarding a surface of the magnetic layer is 2.0 nm or smaller, full widths at half maximum of spacing distribution measured by optical interferometry regarding a surface of the magnetic layer before and after performing a vacuum heating with respect to the magnetic tape are greater than 0 nm and 7.0 nm or smaller, a difference between spacings before and after the vacuum heating is greater than 0 nm and 8.0 nm or smaller, and a ratio of an average area Sdc of a magnetic cluster of the magnetic tape in a DC demagnetization state and an average area Sac of a magnetic cluster thereof in an AC demagnetization state measured with a magnetic force microscope is 0.80 to 1.30.

The magnetic tape device includes a TMR head and a magnetic tape, in which the magnetic tape includes fatty acid ester in a magnetic layer, Ra measured regarding a surface of the magnetic layer is 2.0 nm or smaller, full widths at half maximum of spacing distribution measured by optical interferometry regarding a surface of the magnetic layer before and after performing a vacuum heating with respect to the magnetic tape are greater than 0 nm and 7.0 nm or smaller, a difference between spacings before and after the vacuum heating is greater than 0 nm and 8.0 nm or smaller, and a ratio of an average area Sdc of a magnetic cluster of the magnetic tape in a DC demagnetization state and an average area Sac of a magnetic cluster thereof in an AC demagnetization state measured with a magnetic force microscope is 0.80 to 1.30.

An apparatus according to one embodiment includes a module having a tape bearing surface, a magnetic transducer in a thin film region, and an edge closest to the transducers. A guide is positioned relative to the edge for inducing tenting of a moving magnetic recording tape above a tape tenting region of the tape bearing surface. The magnetic transducer is positioned along the tape tenting region.

An apparatus according to one embodiment includes a module having a tape bearing surface, a magnetic transducer in a thin film region, and an edge closest to the transducers. A guide is positioned relative to the edge for inducing tenting of a moving magnetic recording tape above a tape tenting region of the tape bearing surface. The magnetic transducer is positioned along the tape tenting region.

In one general embodiment, a method includes determining a distance from a transducer of a module to an edge of the module closest thereto, and selecting a wrap angle based on the determined distance for inducing tenting of a moving magnetic recording tape in a region above the transducer. In another general embodiment, a method includes running a magnetic recording tape over a tape bearing surface having at least one edge, and detecting signals from the tape at differing wrap angles for estimating a height of tenting of the tape above a transducer at each of the wrap angles. A wrap angle is selected to provide about a predefined height of tenting of the tape above the transducer.